KAMIANETS-PODILSKY in Ukraine,

Kamyanets-Podilsky is about 25km north of the point where Moldova and Romania meet at the Ukrainian border. This old town has stood since at least the 11th century on a sheer-walled rock island carved out of the steppe by a sharp loop in the Smotrych River.

While questions remain as to when the city was first founded, evidence of local indigenous Ukrainian settlement traces back at least to the 6th century. Situated on important trade routes, both overland (east-west) and by water (north-south), the settlement experienced growth. Having survived the 13th century Mongol invasions, the community continued to prosper under a variety of different foreign rulers.

With the establishment of the Podillian Roman Catholic bishopric in Kamianets-Podilsky in 1375, the city became one of Rome's primary bastions in the East, competing with the influence of Orthodoxy and checking the spread of Islam (Tartars and later Ottomans). In time, the more prestigious Catholic religious Orders established monasteries within the city - including the Dominicans (c. 1370), Franciscans (1400), and the Discalce Carmelites (1623); the Jesuits established both a mission (1608) and a college (1610). Yet unlike Western Europe, where Catholic prominence often brought about religious repressions, both the Ukrainian and the Armenian Orthodox churches continued to grow and prosper within the city walls. While religious tolerance would begin to decline by the 17th century, for three hundred years a spirit of religious toleration was maintained for the city's three dominant communities (Ukrainian, Polish and Armenian).

The south-western bridge, for centuries the only link between the town and the mainland, is guarded by a nine-towered stone castle that dates from the 16th century. Most of the towers are open to visitors, and many offer great views of the town and the surrounding countryside.
These massive fortifications impressed not only travelers and merchants who came to visit the city. According to local legend, the Turkish Khan Osman allegedly asked "who built this mighty city?" An underling is said to have replied "God Himself". Upon being unable to take the city by storm, the Khan was to have said upon leaving "Then let God Himself take the city". Throughout its long and violent history, the city twice surrendered to those who captured the castle, but the city itself was never taken by storm.

 

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